ABSTRACT
In the United States, the future directions of healthcare were dramatically changed during 2009 and 2010 as the federal government engaged in a major process to reform healthcare systems to meet the health needs of the population for the twenty-first century. This process resulted in the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, H.R.3590 (PPACA), which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010 (P.L 111-148). This was followed by a package of key amendments, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152).
